UNITED STATES 
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                 FORM 10-Q

(MARK ONE)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE      
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended April 5, 1998               
                                     OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to                   



           Commission file number                 1-4682                    


                         THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION                   
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Tennessee                                      22-1326940       
  (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer)
   incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

             8155 T&B Boulevard,  Memphis, Tennessee         38125         
            (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)

                               (901) 252-8000                            
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports 
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act 
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to 
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.      Yes   X      No     

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's 
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
             
  Common Stock-$0.10 Par Value                          55,246,778          
     (Title of each class)                     (Outstanding at May 11, 1998)

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PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  Financial Statements

                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                           Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                 (In thousands)

                                                      April 5,   December 28,
                                                       1998         1997    
ASSETS                                              (Unaudited)   (Audited)
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                         $   59,909   $   43,872 
  Marketable securities                                 51,692       52,382 
  Receivables - net                                    260,369      273,565 
  Inventories:                                   
    Finished goods                                     177,149      157,095 
    Work-in-process                                     91,871       66,726 
    Raw materials                                      131,421      150,156 
                                                       400,441      373,977 
  Deferred income taxes                                 38,524       43,452 
  Prepaid expenses                                      12,220        8,902 
Total Current Assets                                   823,155      796,150 

Property, plant and equipment                        1,098,561    1,074,591 
  Less accumulated depreciation                        517,051      504,829 
    Property, plant and equipment - net                581,510      569,762 
Intangible assets - net                                501,146      505,225 
Investments in unconsolidated companies                132,040      127,703 
Other assets                                            38,285       39,835 

TOTAL ASSETS                                        $2,076,136   $2,038,675 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Notes payable                                     $   27,725   $   25,997 
  Current maturities of long-term debt                   4,727        5,256 
  Accounts payable                                     170,844      208,056 
  Accrued liabilities                                  128,639      140,584 
  Income taxes                                          37,204       44,514 
  Dividends payable                                          -       15,401 
Total Current Liabilities                              369,139      439,808 

Long-term debt                                         585,580      502,813 
Other long-term liabilities                             93,735       92,206 
Deferred income taxes                                   26,619       26,467 

Shareholders' Equity:
  Common stock                                         324,845      316,922 
  Retained earnings                                    688,024      668,189 
  Accumulated other comprehensive income                (4,573)      (2,809)
  Unearned compensation                                 (7,233)      (4,921)
Total Shareholders' Equity                           1,001,063      977,381 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY          $2,076,136   $2,038,675 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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                          THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION

                      Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                     (In thousands except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                     Quarter Ended     
                                                  April 5,    March 30,
                                                    1998         1997   

Net sales                                        $501,264     $515,919 

Costs and expenses:
 Cost of sales                                    343,179      356,898 
 Marketing, general and administrative             86,257       88,607 
 Research and development                          12,338       12,434 
 Amortization of intangibles                        4,382        4,416 
                                                  446,156      462,355 

Earnings from operations                           55,108       53,564 
Income from unconsolidated companies                8,527        3,207 
Other expense - net                               (12,488)     (11,708)

Earnings before income taxes                       51,147       45,063 

Income taxes                                       15,865       14,729 

Net earnings                                     $ 35,282     $ 30,334 



Net earnings per common share:
  Basic                                          $   0.64     $   0.56 
  Diluted                                        $   0.64     $   0.56 

Average shares outstanding:
  Basic                                            55,078       54,279 
  Diluted                                          55,546       54,583 


Cash dividends declared per share                $   0.28     $   0.28 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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                          THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                     Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                                (In thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)
                                                         Quarter Ended    
                                                       April 5,   March 30,
                                                         1998       1997  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings                                          $ 35,282    $ 30,334 
Adjustments:
  Depreciation and amortization                         26,612      24,243 
  Deferred income taxes                                  5,227       2,126 
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:
    Receivables                                         13,222      (6,680)
    Inventories                                        (26,410)     (7,395)
    Accounts payable                                   (36,736)    (22,716)
    Accrued liabilities                                (11,619)    (17,638)
    Income taxes payable                                (7,093)     (4,494)
              Other                                     (6,135)     (9,479)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     (7,650)    (11,699)


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of businesses, net                            (1,098)    (17,497)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment             (33,978)    (25,046)
Marketable securities acquired                         (10,330)     (6,569)
Proceeds from matured marketable securities             11,020      10,192 
Other                                                        -         587 
Net cash used in investing activities                  (34,386)    (38,333)


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Increase (decrease) in borrowings with
  original maturities less than 90 days                  5,568      (2,391)
Proceeds from long-term debt and other
  borrowings                                            86,063     109,424 
Repayment of long-term debt and other
  borrowings                                            (7,124)    (82,138)
Stock options exercised                                  4,605       9,610 
Cash dividends paid                                    (30,854)    (11,328)
Net cash provided by financing activities               58,258      23,177 


EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH                   (185)     (2,501)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents                                           16,037     (29,356)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period        43,872     126,355 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period            $ 59,909    $ 96,999 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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                          THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                 (Unaudited)

1.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     In the opinion of Management, the accompanying consolidated financial
statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring
accruals) necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position as of
April 5, 1998 and December 28, 1997, and the results of operations and cash 
flows for the three-month periods ended April 5, 1998 and March 30, 1997.

     Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in 
financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles have been condensed or omitted.  It is suggested that
these consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and notes thereto included in the Corporation's Annual
Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997.  The
results of operations for the periods ended April 5, 1998 and March 30, 1997 
are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for a full year. 

2.   EARNINGS PER SHARE ("EPS")

     Basic EPS for each period are computed by dividing net earnings by the
weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the
period.  Diluted EPS for each period are computed by dividing net earnings by
the sum of (1) the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the 
period and (2) the dilutive effect of the assumed exercise of stock options 
using the treasury stock method.

     The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of
the per share computations:
                                                           Quarter Ended   
                                                        April 5,   March 30,
     (In thousands except per share data)                 1998        1997  

     Net earnings                                        $35,282    $30,334 

     Average shares outstanding                           55,078     54,279 
     Basic EPS                                           $  0.64    $  0.56 

     Average shares outstanding                           55,078     54,279 
     Plus assumed exercise of stock options                  468        304 
                                                          55,546     54,583 
     Diluted EPS                                         $  0.64    $  0.56 

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                          THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                 (Unaudited)


3.   COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     The Corporation adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
130, "Comprehensive Income," as of the beginning of fiscal 1998.  Total
comprehensive income and its components are as follows:

                                                               Quarter Ended   
                                                        April 5,   March 30,
     (In thousands)                                       1998        1997  

     Net earnings                                       $35,282     $30,334 

     Foreign currency translation adjustment             (1,764)     (8,326)

     Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities          -        (247)

     Comprehensive income                               $33,518     $21,761 

                                   Page 6
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ITEM 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
          Operations and Financial Condition


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   Thomas & Betts Corporation had record net earnings and earnings per share
(EPS) for the first quarter 1998.  First-quarter 1998 net earnings of $35.3
million rose 16% over prior-year results.  Both basic and diluted EPS for the
first quarter 1998 were $0.64, an increase of 14% from first-quarter 1997 
basic and diluted EPS of $0.56.

   Reported net sales for the first quarter were lowered $25.2 million by the
deconsolidation of automotive electronics businesses contributed at year-end 
1997 to the Exemplar/Thomas & Betts Electrical Systems (ET&B) joint venture. 
In addition to the deconsolidation, sales for the quarter were reduced by the
previously announced, planned phase-out of a large automotive platform, which
lowered sales by $5.0 million, a refocusing of sales efforts for steel 
structures, which accounted for $11.6 million of the reduced sales, and $8.2 
million of foreign currency shifts.  Net sales of $501.3 million, reflecting 
the aforementioned items, were 3% below the $515.9 million reported in the 
prior-year quarter.  Excluding the impact of those same items, first-quarter 
sales increased 7% from the 1997 period.  First-quarter sales outside the 
U.S. were 24.4% of total sales, versus last year's 23.6%.

   Sales of the Electrical Construction and Maintenance Components segment
grew 11% in the first quarter versus last year's quarter.  The Corporation 
had higher year-over-year sales in all end-markets -- commercial, industrial,
project and general line distributors -- as generally favorable economic 
conditions throughout North America and greater market penetration of the 
Corporation's broad product offering resulted in solid volume increases in 
the segment.

   First-quarter sales of the Electronic/OEM Components segment improved 2%
from the first-quarter 1997 level if results are adjusted for sales of 
businesses contributed to the ET&B joint venture, sales related to the 
phased-out automotive platform and unfavorable currency shifts.  On a 
reported basis, sales of the Electronics segment were 14% lower in the first 
quarter than the prior-year period.  Sales to the professional electronics 
channel were flat, as a solid volume gain was offset by unfavorable foreign 
currency shifts and modestly lower pricing.  Sales to cable television (CATV)
markets improved across all geographic regions from soft second-half 1997 
levels to post only a 3% decline versus a very strong prior-year sales 
figure.  In April, subsequent to the close of the first quarter, the 
Corporation announced that it had obtained a number of exclusive marketing 
agreements with CATV distributors for its entire hard-line package and a 
multi-year contract with MediaOne for its advanced broadband technology 
solutions.  Management believes that those advancements should benefit sales 
in 1998 and over the next several years in addition to providing solid 
evidence that its strategy to be a full line provider of CATV hardware and 
technologically innovative broadband products is working.  Excluding the 
impact of the joint venture deconsolidation and model phase-out, sales to 

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automobile manufacturers rose 2% from the 1997-quarter.  The Corporation's 
earnings on sales generated by businesses contributed to the ET&B joint 
venture were included as income from unconsolidated companies in the 
1998-quarter.  On a reported basis, sales to automobile manufacturers were 
34% lower than the prior-year period.  The Corporation was recently awarded a
sizeable contract to supply a major automotive manufacturer with product for 
an upcoming platform.  The Corporation will fill 70% of the contract directly 
and 30% will be sourced through its ET&B joint venture.  This marks the first 
award to the Corporation as a result of its expanded sourcing capabilities 
provided by the joint venture.

   Excluding the decline in steel structure sales, first-quarter sales of 
Other Products and Components rose 7% from 1997's level.  Including the 
impact of refocusing the steel structures business, segment sales were 4% 
below the prior-year level.  However, solid sales gains were reported for
mechanical products and the utility and telecommunications markets.  The
increase in mechanical products sales resulted from higher sales of specialty 
heating and ventilation units and construction products.  The improvement in 
utility sales was attributed to increased demand for core products that more 
than offset weak Asian sales.  The Corporation experienced strong sales to 
Asian telecommunications markets that supplanted lower domestic demand in 
that market.

   After closely examining market conditions in steel structures, management
adjusted manufacturing capacity and redirected marketing efforts to cultivate 
new markets, including wind generation, international and previously untapped 
segments of the utility markets.  Through those steps and as a result of 
strengthening utility project work with alliance partners, the Corporation 
built a backlog to support second-half 1998 steel-structure sales above 
second-half 1997 levels.  Management believes that the broader, refocused 
business base should provide a platform for strong sales and significantly 
improved profitability in this channel in the second half of 1998 and beyond.

   With the reclassification of earnings from sales contributed to the ET&B
joint venture, first-quarter 1998 earnings from operations rose 3%, to $55.1 
million, from $53.6 million in the 1997 quarter, while earnings from 
consolidated operations and unconsolidated companies increased 12% year over 
year, to $63.6 million.

   Actions implemented throughout 1997, including relocating production to
lower cost locations, caused first-quarter gross and operating margins to
improve from those same measures in the prior-year quarter.  The 1998 gross
margin was 31.5% compared with 1997's 30.8%, and 1998's operating margin rose 
to 11.0%, versus an operating margin of 10.4% in 1997's quarter.

   Income from unconsolidated companies rose dramatically from the prior-year 
as a result of the inclusion of the ET&B joint venture earnings and continued 
strong equity income from the Corporation's investment in Leviton.

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   The first quarter 1998 effective income tax rate of 31.0% was lower than
the first quarter 1997 rate of 32.7% due to favorable results from state and 
international tax planning initiatives.  The Corporation's effective income 
tax rate was 31% for the full-year 1997, with the rate in the second half of 
1997 adjusted to achieve the 31% overall rate for the full year.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

   Net cash used by operating activities was $7.7 million through the first
three months of 1998.  Accounts receivable declined from year-end 1997 as a
result of seasonally lower sales and improved collection rates.  Inventory
levels increased from year-end levels due to the addition of safety stock in 
conjunction with product line moves from one plant to another for 
manufacturing cost reductions, seasonal increases in certain product lines 
for the upcoming construction season and increases to accommodate higher 
volumes and new product introductions.

   Capital expenditures for the first three months totaled $34.0 million, 
slightly higher than in previous quarters, partially because of incremental 
spending on enhanced information systems.  Management expects capital 
expenditures during 1998 to be about $20 million higher than the normal run 
rate of 5% of sales due to expenditures for information technology systems. 
Spending for those systems will span three years beginning in 1997, with 
spending concentrated in 1998.  Those information technology projects should 
play a strategic role in enhancing the Corporation's competitiveness and all 
will be Year 2000 compliant.  Dividends paid during the first quarter of 1998 
totaled $30.9 million for dividends declared in the fourth quarter of 1997 
and the first quarter of 1998.

   As of April 5, 1998, marketable securities, cash and equivalents totaled
$111.6 million, compared with $96.3 million as of December 28, 1997. 
The Corporation has a revolving-credit facility with a group of banks that
provides for a commitment of $500.0 million through March 29, 2000.  As of
April 5, 1998, $62.1 million of commercial paper was outstanding, which was
backed by the revolving-credit facility.

   In December 1997, the Corporation entered into an asset-securitization
agreement permitting the continual sale of accounts receivable through
December 19, 2002, to a maximum of $150.0 million.  As of April 5, 1998, the 
maximum had been sold under this program.

   The Corporation has access to $285.0 million of funds under uncommitted
credit lines with a variety of banks.  Uncommitted borrowings under these
lines totaled $140.5 million at the end of the quarter.  The Corporation has 
a number of smaller committed and uncommitted credit facilities to provide 
funding for its international operations.

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   In February 1998, the company issued $60.0 million of 5-year medium-term
notes priced at par, having a yield of 6.29%.  During May 1998, the 
Corporation issued $115.0 million of 10-year medium-term notes with an issue 
price of 99.75% of par, having a yield of 6.66%.  Proceeds from this sale 
were used to reduce borrowing under the Corporation's commercial paper 
program and under uncommitted lines of credit.

   Management believes that the Corporation's resources are sufficient to 
meet the Corporation's financing needs for the forseeable future.

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION 

ITEM 5.  Other Information

     (a)  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

          Certain statements in this Form 10-Q and in written and oral 
          statements made by the Corporation may constitute "forward-looking
          statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act 
          of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  
          The words "believe," "expect" and "anticipate" and similar 
          expressions identify forward-looking statements.  Although these
          statements reflect the Corporation's current views with respect to
          future events and financial performance, they are subject to many
          uncertainties and factors relating to the Corporation's operations
          and business environment which may cause the actual results of the
          Corporation to be materially different from any future results
          expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

          Examples of such uncertainties include, but are not limited to: 
          changes in customer demand for various products of the Corporation
          that could affect its overall product mix, margins, plant 
          utilization levels and asset valuations; economic slowdown in the
          U.S. (contrary to the Corporation's expectations of favorable
          economic conditions throughout 1998) or economic slowdowns in the
          Corporation's major offshore markets, including Canada, Western
          Europe (particularly Germany and the U.K.), Japan and Taiwan; 
          effects of significant changes in monetary and fiscal policies in
          the U.S. and abroad which could result in currency fluctuations,
          including fluctuations in the Canadian dollar, German mark, 
          Japanese yen, Swiss franc and U.K. pound; inflationary pressures
          which could raise interest rates and consequently the Corporation's 
          cost of funds; unforeseen difficulties in completing identified 
          restructuring actions initiated in 1996 in connection with the 
          Augat merger, including disposal of idle facilities, geographic 
          shifts of production locations and closure of redundant 
          administrative facilities; unforeseen problems in the Corporation's 
          computer systems and from third parties with whom the Corporation 
          deals on financial transactions, specifically those related to 
          "Year 2000" date-recognition ability in time-sensitive software; 
          availability and pricing of commodities and materials needed for 
          production of the Corporation's products, including steel, copper, 
          zinc, aluminum, gold and plastic resins; increased downward 
          pressure on selling prices for the Corporation's products; 
          unforeseen difficulties arising from the integration of acquired 
          businesses with the Corporation's operations; changes in financial 
          results of, or possibly the relationships with, the Corporation's 
          joint ventures and other equity investments in Taiwan, Japan, 
          Belgium and the U.S.; changes in environmental regulations and 
          policies that could impact projections of remediation expenses; 
          significant changes in governmental policies domestically and 
          abroad that could create trade restrictions, patent enforcement 
          issues, adverse tax rate changes and changes in tax treatment of 

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          such items as tax credits, withholding taxes, transfer pricing and 
          other income and expense recognition for tax purposes, including 
          changes in taxation on income generated in Puerto Rico.


ITEM 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     (a)  The following exhibits are filed as part of this form:

          (12)  Statement re Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed 
                Charges (Filed as Exhibit 12 to the Corporation's Current
                Report on Form 8-K, dated May 4, 1998, Commission File No.
                1-4682, and incorporated herein by reference.)

          (27)  Financial Data Schedule (for SEC use only)

     (b)  Reports on Form 8-K
          
          On February 5, 1998 and on February 10, 1998, the Corporation filed 
          a Current Report on Form 8-K, in connection with the issuance of 
          medium-term notes under the Corporation's Registration Statement on 
          Form S-3 (No. 33-44153).  The February 5 Form 8-K was filed under 
          Item 5 and Item 7 and the February 10 Form 8-K was filed under Item 
          7.

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                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION


                                   Signatures



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                 THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                                 (Registrant)



DATE:    May 19, 1998            /s/FRED R. JONES
                                 Fred R. Jones
                                 Vice President-Finance and Treasurer


DATE:    May 19, 1998            /s/JERRY KRONENBERG
                                 Jerry Kronenberg
                                 Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary

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